Alam

عّلّم

Alam Definition

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For the organization ALAM, see Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers

Alam can be an Arabic surname or it can also mean flag, sign, or world.

Contents

1 Al''am as flag or sign

2 Ālam as surname

3 Ālam as a family name in Laqab (لقب) names

3.1 Instances

4 All redirects

5 People

6 Places

7 Names

8 All redirects

9 References

Al''am as flag or signShia Muslims take out an Alam procession on day of Ashura in Barabanki, India, Jan, 2009.alam of the Mughal Empire

''Alam means "flag" or "sign" in Arabic. In Egypt, it may refer to a stone heap set up to mark a path in the desert.

''Alam is also of spiritual significance for the Twelver Shia Muslims. Though all Shias including those of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Syria carry ''Alams in their processions in Ashura, the ones in India and Pakistan are specifically of a different kind and have more of a spiritual significance. An Alam with a "Panja" on top of it is considered to be a religious flag of Islam, and it is said to be carried by the Prophet Muhammed, Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali during battles or expeditions. The battle of Karbala further glorifies its importance. An Alam is usually seen during Muharram processions and at designated sites in Shia Mosques.

Historically, the Prophet''s family had a unique flag that represented the Bani Hashim clan in specific. One honorable member of the family would be chosen to carry this as a representation to others. Earlier it was green in color and was given to first Imam Ali ibn Abitalib by Prophet Mohammad himself, then Ali ibn Abitalib gave this Alam to his son Al Abbas ibn Ali who held this Alam till his last breath in the Battle of Karbala. After the event of Karbala, Alams during azadari procession are colored black or red.

It is thought to have been a black drape on a wooden pole with an emblem on the top. The Alams of India and Pakistan usually have one that is a long wooden pole mounted with a silver or metal "Panja" (meaning a claw or palm of your hand). An ''Alam is usually seen during Muharram Processions and at designated sites in Shia Mosques today. Though there are Sufi shrines or mausoleums of Pirs that still have decorated ''Alams in Muharram in such cities as Karachi and Mumbai, this practice being performed by people other than Shia Muslims has subsided over the last two decades out of fears of attacks by Wahhabis. An example of people who still practice "Hosay" or a multicultural event on the tenth of Muharram and carry ''Alams can be found in Trinidad and Tobago. These Indians left India at a time when the Pir system was still in effect and this cross cultural event was still practiced without persecution.

The practice of taking out Alam procession during the holy month of Moharram or any festival season is prevalent in India and Pakistan when hundreds of thousands of people come out on the streets holding the Alam in their hands. Alams taken out during celebration are usually green in color and the ones taken out during mourning procession are mostly either black or red in color, black signifies grief while red reminds of revenge for martyrs of Karbala still remaining. Alams in India and Pakistan are sometimes more than 20 feet in length.

People who hold these Alams are referred as Alamdars (the Flag Bearers).

Ālam as surname

Ālam is commonly an Arabic surname.

Ālam as a family name in Laqab (لقب) names

As a Muslim laqab (لقب) name, Ālam often occurs as a joined names such as Ālameddin, Alameddine, Alamuddin, Alamettin, Alam Ed Din, Alam Ud Deen, Alam Ad Din, Alam Ud Din, ....etc. Din (Arabic:دين) or Deen refers to "way of life" or "code of life" and religion (in Islam). The difference in Latin spelling originates from westernization of the Arabic name into various European languages. The original spelling (علم الدين) remains the same when the Arabic script is being used.

Instances

Several notable people share the surname "Alam":

Alexander Alam (1896–1983), English-Australian state politician, son of Lebanese-English parents

Alam Channa (1953–1998), son of Nasir Channa of Dhoke Kashmirian was the world''s tallest living man at 232.4 cm (7 ft 7 inch) high. During his life he had been billed at various heights of up to 7 ft 6 while working at a circus

Alam Khattak, HI(M), TBt, is a Pakistan Army general who is the present Commander of Southern Command based at Quetta. He took over the command in October 2011 after staying as Chief of Logistics Staff (CLS) at the Army GHQ for two years

Alam Gull Kuchi, Afghan politician, the parliamentary representative of the Kuchi nomads in the Wolesi Jirga

Alam Lohar (1928–1979), prominent Punjabi folk music from the Punjab region of Pakistan, formerly British India. He is credited with popularising the musical term Jugni

Alam Muzaffarnagari (1901–1969), real name Muhammad Ishaaq, was born in Muzaffarnagar, a city in Uttar Pradesh

Places

Alam Budiman

Alam Damai

Alam Impian

Alam Kandi

Alam Roza

Alam Sar

Alam Serada

Names

Alam Al Yawm, an Arabic 18-page newspaper published in Kuwait. The paper has an independent and moderate stance

Alam El Phan, an Egyptian media group based in Cairo that supervises, manages, and produces Arabic music records and motion pictures. The company also runs the record label and TV station Mazzika, and the TV station Zoom. It is distributed by EMI Arabia

Alam Ara, a 1931 film directed by ArdeshirIrani. It was the first Indian sound film

Alam Kala

Alam-Kuh, - Mount Alam - is a mountain in the Alborz mountain range in the north of Iran, Mazandaran Province, forming a peak of the Takht-e Suleyman Massif

Alam Melayu

Alam Saray

Alam Simsim, an Arabic language Egyptian-made adaptation of the format used in the children''s television series Sesame Street. Alam Simsim is Arabic for "Sesame World"